The New Schnitzel House

Before there was Schnitzel House, there was Schnitzel Haus. This German restaurant on 79th Street is actually a remake of another German restaurant on 79th Street, which lived in the very same building, closed in 2018, and was so beloved that folks spent a lot of money bringing it back from the dead.  

But Schnitzel House (the current version) is great because it not only recreates a specific restaurant, but also a specific era. One where every surface was mirrored, and 75% of the people in the dining room knew each other, making Miami feel like a small town. That's why you’ll be hit by a wave of nostalgia when you walk in—even if you never stepped into the old Schnitzel Haus. And it’s also why this place is so much fun.

photo credit: Cleveland Jennings / @eatthecanvasllc

photo credit: Cleveland Jennings / @eatthecanvasllc

photo credit: Cleveland Jennings / @eatthecanvasllc

photo credit: Cleveland Jennings / @eatthecanvasllc

Like its spiritual predecessor, The New Schnitzel House’s menu is German (a cuisine you really don’t see in Miami) but also has some modern twists that feel very on brand for the Gramps team, who are now running the place. The menu has several schnitzels—chicken, veal, and seitan—and you should get one. But you should also pair it with some of the excellent appetizers, like a fluffy pretzel or currywurst.

There’s an outdoor patio if it’s nice out, but even if it is, the dining room is where we want to be. It’s there that Schnitzel House pulls off a very tricky thing: ‘80s Miami nostalgia that doesn’t feel like a designer Googled “Miami Vice” and called it a day. Lots of mirrors and primary colors get the point across, but there are enough original details to give the restaurant a personality distinct from any decade: squiggly lines, patterns, puns, and more delightful little things you’ll only notice after repeat visits.

This is a restaurant that wants you to keep coming back, and that’ll be easy. This is where you should take that friend who’s flying in for the weekend, that fourth date, or the indecisive group chat who want to go somewhere exciting and photogenic but don’t want to spend $300 per person. That’s what the old Schnitzel Haus was to a lot of people, and that’s why some of them refused to let it die. We’re already prepared to lie in front of a bulldozer for The New Schnitzel House.

Food Rundown

photo credit: Cleveland Jennings / @eatthecanvasllc

The Pretzel

The pretzel is the first thing you see on the menu for a reason. We can’t imagine ever coming here and not ordering this fluffy dude. Definitely use the beer cheese it comes with, but don’t neglect the house mustard, which has a punch that’ll clear your sinuses.

photo credit: Cleveland Jennings / @eatthecanvasllc

Currywurst

In an endearingly Miami translation, the parenthesis next to this dish’s name says “German salchipapa.” And, pretty much. The fries are nice and crispy, but the curry kraut is actually our favorite part of this.

photo credit: Cleveland Jennings / @eatthecanvasllc

Brat Plat

If all the sausages—the frankfurter, smoked wagyu kielbasa, and Babe's bratwurst—sound good to you, order this, and you can pick two (or all three for an additional charge). It also comes with potato salad, pickled things, and more of that house mustard that makes our pupils dilate.

photo credit: Cleveland Jennings / @eatthecanvasllc

Chicken Schnitzel

This is a pretty straightforward, to-the-point schnitzel. It’s big, pounded thin, and served over lemon mashed potatoes and gravy. And even if you’re a very slow eater, it’ll stay crispy till the last bite.